Climate Change Summit
By Dr S. Saraswathi
The US witnessed a few days ago, the biggest protest by students and young people drawn from all States of the nation to demand action against climate change that is threatening the whole world. It is reported that many schools in New York permitted their students to skip classes to join the protests that took place two days before the UN Climate Change Summit convened in the city.
The Summit was action-oriented and was to collect action plans from various countries and not end up with speeches and resolutions. Heads of governments were urged to “demonstrate a leap in collective national political ambitions and massive low-emission movements in the real economy”. Climate change has crossed the stage of awareness, arguments, and assessment, and has reached the stage of actions to mitigate disasters and make adaptations to changes.
The Summit has come three years after the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in 2016. In March 2019, the number of signatories of Paris Agreement dealing with green-house emissions, mitigation, and finance stood at 195. They are bound to determine, plan, and regularly send reports on their individual contributions to mitigate global warming.
Climate and ecological crisis is a mix of political, economic, and cultural crisis in the world today. It is one real crisis that meets convincing speeches` and impressive demonstrations, but very little effective action. The threat is perceived to be for a distant future generations, but ecological studies point to worsening of the crisis day by day and nearness of the impending calamity threatening the whole world.
Youth protest was followed by a vast youth gathering at the United Nations at the Climate Summit to urge world leaders to take action for a sustainable future. The UNO had invited around 500 young activists to take part in the meeting – the first of its kind, but some press reports inform that many were unable to attend as they could not get US visa. A contingent from India also joined the gathering.
The Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has recently reported about a serious threat to the safety of the entire world as a result of climate change. In India, coastal cities of Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Surat are mentioned as likely victims to be severely affected by rise of sea level while several others in northern India to be affected by acute water shortage due to melting of Himalayan glaciers causing declining level of water in many perennial rivers. Sea levels are estimated to be rising faster than predicted earlier to reach 30 to 60 cm rise by the end of this century even if carbon emissions are drastically reduced and global warming is brought down to 2degrees C.
A special report of the panel warns the world that outside Greenland and Antarctica, about 220 billion metric tonnes of ice are being lost in a year. Indeed, a grave situation for those who can visualise the consequences. Naturally, melting is bound to grow faster giving world less and less time to wake up. Action to reverse the danger should be taken immediately and in drastic dose.
Symbolically, the disappearance of an Alpine glacier at an altitude of 8,850 ft. was observed as a sad event like death deserving funeral. Located on the borders of France, Italy, and Switzerland, it is on the highest peak in Western Europe. It came after the first glacier loss a month ago in Iceland.
Average temperature between 2015 and 2019 is set to be hottest on record, according to a UN report. It is presently estimated to be 1.1 degree C above pre-industrial times (1850-1900), and 0.2 degree C warmer than 2011-2015. Another report says that the extent of Arctic summer sea ice has declined at a rate of 12% per decade over the past four decades with the four lowest values between 2015 and 2019.
Global warming has already affected agricultural production. Forest fires on a scale unknown in the past break out in all continents. Studies show that if emissions continue to rise at their current pace, natural disasters will increase 100% which is already experienced in some countries. Earthquakes have become daily occurrences; tempests, hurricanes, and tsunami are more severe and more widespread; floods and storms threaten any place; and rains don’t follow their seasons. Such natural calamities could drain the economy of even the richest countries.
In this context, US President Donald Trump wants to pull out of the Paris Climate Accord and reversed many climate mitigating policies. He did not address the Climate Summit. Another leader is Brazil President who is inclined to downplay environmental concerns despite the huge Amazon fire.
Periodic reports and outbursts on the dangers of climate change awaiting the world have become routine and consumed by common people with practically no reaction. They read the reports with more curiosity than concern just as they read wild life stories or forest fire or tsunami in a far off land. Their reaction cannot achieve any substantial result. Governments have to take policy decisions and strict follow up actions including penalty for violations of its directives by organisations and people. Volumes of information are pouring in, but little substantive action is reported.
Four countries — UK, France, Canada, and Ireland — have declared climate emergencies, but continue to pour billions of dollars to promote fossil-fuel industries. They extend tax breaks, financial incentives, and export promotions that are not consistent with climate crisis action. Over 800 cities all over the world have declared climate emergency under which powers have been adopted by public authorities to take action to curb effects of climate change, a drive for carbon neutrality, and a mandate for political action. Cities have an important role as big consumers of energy and producers of waste.
However, the emergency mostly remains on paper, and few people are even aware of it and its consequences. It seems that there are people including some leading policy makers who do not believe in climate studies and warnings. Melting of Arctic glaciers may be seen by them as nature’s gift to open new navigation routes and opening up of unexplored under-water resources. Indeed, it is almost impossible to achieve worldwide understanding and coordinated action to contain climate change within limits to ensure sustainable future.
Despite, worldwide dissemination of information on the imminent dangers in global warming and climate change, few fresh plans were put forth in the recent Climate Summit. Most countries could only promise incremental action on their existing plans. Prime Minister Modi agreed to increase the country’s share of renewable energy. But, dependence on coal cannot be stopped. China made no new promises.
The courage and conviction of Greta Thunburg, the 15-year old Swedish environmentalist, who led demonstrations outside the Swedish Parliament for “stronger climate action” and organised student strikes under the label “Fridays for the future” must inspire the young and old. To fight the crisis and produce results, four- tier action — global policies, national commitments, local plan, and individual cooperation — must come. —INFA
(The writer is former Director, ICSSR, New Delhi)